Hi All,
             thought I'd pass this along to you as a public service.

[From    ] Paul Mason                       [MSG 576 OF 606]
[To      ] All                              [Has Reply 606]
[Date    ] Sat 28 Nov 92 16:42
[Subject ] Hey...

Here's some mail which was passed along to me and I though all of the
Modem players here would REALLY be interested to know that
the Government is considering taxing the use of Modems!!!!
 
Do your part and follow up on this articles suggestions!
Thanks!
 
=====================================================================
 
Two years ago the FCC tried and (with your help and letters of
protest) failed to institute regulations that would impose additional
costs on modem users for data communications.
 
Now, they are at it again.  A new regulation that the FCC is quietly
working on will directly affect you as the user of a computer and
modem.  The FCC proposes that users of modems should pay extra charges
for use of the public telephone network which carry their data.  In
addition, computer network services such as CompuServ, Tymnet, &
Telenet would also be charged as much as $6.00 per hour per user for
use of the public telephone network.  These charges would very likely
be passed on to the subscribers.
 
The money is to be collected and given to the telephone company in an
effort to raise funds lost to deregulation.
 
Jim Eason of KGO newstalk radio (San Francisco, CA) commented on the
proposal during his afternoon radio program during which, he said he
learned of the new regulation in an article in the New York Times.
Jim took the time to gather the addresses which are given below.
Here's what you should do (NOW!):
 
Pass along this message which contains
    the text you are reading now.  Find other BBS's that are not
    carrying this information.  Upload the ASCII text into a public
    message on the BBS, and also upload the file itself so others can
    easily get a copy to pass along.
 
 2- Print out three copies of the letter which follows (or write your
    own) and send a signed copy to each of the following:
 
         Chairman of the FCC
         1919 M Street N.W.
         Washington, D.C. 20554
 
         Chairman, Senate Communication Subcommittee
         SH-227 Hart Building
         Washington, D.C. 20510
 
         Chairman, House Telecommunication Subcommittee
         B-331 Rayburn Building
 
Here's the suggested text of the letter to send:
   
   Dear Sir,
 
   Please allow me to express my displeasure with the FCC proposal
   which would authorize a surcharge for the use of modems on the
   telephone network. This regulation is nothing less than an attempt
   to restrict the free exchange of information among the growing
   number of computer users. Calls placed using modems require no
   special telephone company equipment, and users of modems pay the
   phone company for use of the network in the form of a monthly bill.
 
   In short, a modem call is the same as a voice call and therefore
   should not be subject to any additional regulation.
 
   Sincerely,
   [your name, address and signature]
 
It is important that you act now.  The bureaucrats already have it in
their heads that modem users should subsidize the phone company and
are now listening to public comment. Please stand up and make it clear
that we will not stand for any government restriction on the free
exchange of information.
 
Please don't Delay!  Respond and Stop the Government from Abusing
our Telecomunicationers rights!!